Spain: Technical Issue Delays Pope Leon XIV's Departure to Rome

Friday 12 June 2026 - 16:39

The journey of Pope Leon XIV in Spain faced an unexpected setback on Friday in the Canary Islands. As the pontiff was preparing to return to Rome after a several-day visit to the country, a technical problem detected on his plane forced authorities to temporarily suspend the takeoff.

The incident occurred shortly after the official greetings exchanged with the King of Spain, Felipe VI, who came to accompany the departure of the head of the Catholic Church.

Last-Minute Departure Interrupted

According to information provided by the services responsible for the papal trip, a technical anomaly was detected as the aircraft was preparing to leave the tarmac.

The situation led the pope to disembark from the plane and return to the terminal while awaiting a complete assessment of the problem by technical teams.

King Felipe VI, present on-site to greet the pontiff before his departure, had briefly boarded the aircraft before both dignitaries exited the plane following the alert.

Quick Intervention by Maintenance Teams

Initial checks reported a difficulty related to the starting of an engine. Technicians mobilized on-site immediately began control operations to identify the exact cause of the incident.

Specialists considered repositioning the aircraft to optimize restart conditions, with some hypotheses suggesting the influence of weather and wind conditions on the functioning of the concerned system.

Authorities specified that the delay was limited and that no dangerous situation had been reported.

End of Visit for the Pontiff

Leon XIV was concluding a seven-day trip in Spain marked by several meetings and pastoral activities.

Before this episode, the pope had visited Tenerife after a stay on the neighboring island of Gran Canaria. His return to the Vatican was meant to mark the end of this tour in the Spanish archipelago.

Onboard the aircraft were also representatives of the Holy See, clergy members, and several accredited journalists following the papal journey.

Strict Security Protocol

The incident recalls the particularly rigorous procedures surrounding the movements of the head of the Catholic Church. Any technical malfunction is systematically subject to thorough checks before any takeoff authorization.

This vigilance aims to ensure the safety of the pontiff and all passengers during international trips from the Vatican.

Despite this setback, Spanish authorities and technical teams quickly mobilized to allow the program to continue under the best conditions.